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likes you, he won’t be upset about it.”
    “If he does ditch me, I’m going to punch Cortland in the nuts.”
    “You better not,” Monnique snapped. “Those are my nuts.”
    “Fine. I’ll punch him in the face.”
    “That’s okay.”
    Cortland and Flynn walked back. Neither one of them looked angry.
    “Let’s go, baby.” Cortland hooked his arm around Monnique’s waist. “Night.”
    “Night,” Flynn said.
    They left the hallway and took the stairs.
    “I’m so sorry,” I said immediately. “I really had no idea he would act like that.”
    “Is he your brother?”
    “No.” I laughed at the absurdity of it. “What did he say?”
    He shrugged his shoulders then grabbed my hand. “It’s a secret.”
    “Why won’t you tell me?”
    “Because it’s a secret.”
    I glared at him. “Come on. Spill it.”
    “Basically, he threatened to kill me if I hurt you.”
    I rolled my eyes. “What else did he say?”
    “Now that’s the part I can’t tell you.” He guided me out of the building and to the street. We headed to my apartment while I wondered what Cortland said to him. It was odd that Flynn wouldn’t tell me.
    When we reached my door, Flynn pulled me close to his chest. “I had a great time tonight.”
    “You did? My crazy family didn’t rub you the wrong way?”
    He smirked. “They rubbed me the right way, actually.” He gave me a serious look. “Not many people have what you have.”
    “What is that?”
    “Friends who genuinely love you.”
    My eyes softened at his words.
    “I can tell each one of them would have your back until the end of time. Good friends are hard to come by, and great friends are impossible. You’re very loved.”
    “They are all really great people.”
    “So are you,” he said. “And I’m honored you introduced me to them. I knew you were into me.”
    “Don’t get carried away…”
    He smirked, the playful look in his eyes. “I really like you too, Hazel. More than I should.”
    Those words went straight to my heart.
    “I’d like it if we didn’t see other people.”
    “I thought we weren’t seeing other people.”
    “That was my assumption. But I wanted to make it clear.” His hands gripped my hips. “Because, I kinda, sorta, like you a lot and I don’t want to share you with anyone—besides your friends.”
    “I’m glad they didn’t scare you away.”
    “It takes a lot more than that.” His hands moved up my sides. “Especially if the prize is something as special as you.”
    How did he make me melt like that?
    “So, I have a feeling this is where our night ends, and I’m fine with that. But, I’d like it if we had a hot make out session on your couch until dawn. What do you say?”
    Only he could p ull that off. My cheeks blushed, and my lips burned at the idea. I definitely wanted to do that. And the fact I did was a little frightening. Since he held me outside my apartment and brought me groceries, my infatuation for the guy increased. I used to think he was a jerk who went through women like a deck of cards, and maybe that was true at one point in time, but I didn’t believe he was like that with me.
    He gently pressed me into the door, his warm breath falling on my face. “I can tell you want to.”
    “You’re the most conceited man I’ve ever met.”
    “Just confident. You forget that I can read you fairly well. You can’t hide anything from me. Now let me come inside so I can kiss those lips I haven’t stopped fantasizing about since the moment I saw them.”
    “You’re a smooth talker.”
    He winked. “And I’m an even smoother kisser.”
    I got my keys out of my purse and got the door unlocked. As soon as were inside, Flynn grabbed the back of my neck and gave me a hard kiss, strong enough to make me melt to the floor. He picked me up then lay me on the couch, his body suspended over mine.
    With every kiss he felt my lips, massaging each one before he slipped his tongue inside. Every move he made was precise and